Shoe



Feb. 25, W36. GOLDBERG 2,032,206

SHOE

Filed 001;. 26, 1934 wlmkssss INVENTOR W MM ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 25,1936 UNITED STATES SHOE Leon Goldberg, New York, N. Y., assignor toVincent Horwitz Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application October 26, 1934, Serial No. 750,212 1 Claim. (Cl.36-115) The present invention relates to shoes and more particularly toa shoe of that type known as a barefoot slipper or sandal.

As heretofore constructed, a barefoot sandal comprised an outer solemore or less flexible and with or without a heel, with straps connectedto the edge of the sole at the sides and extending in diagonaldirections, usually crossing each other at the top, but not connected toeach other, and when worn, engaging the foot in front of the instep andback of the toes, the sole being of such a length that it will extendbeyond the overlapping straps, forming a rest for the toes but leavingthe toes exposed. As so made there was no protection for the toes andthere was considerable difilculty in retaining the sandal on the foot;furthermore, there was some objection on the part of certain individualsto thus exposing the toes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a barefoot sandal orslipper so constructed that the overlapping straps will with certaintyengage the instep and forward part of the foot, and also to provide atoe pocket at the forward end of the sole into which the toes may fitand thus be concealed and to some extent protected, the overlappingstraps and the toe pocket insuring a more secure attachment of thesandal to the foot.

To the above ends the present invention consists of a barefoot sandalhaving at its forward portion overlapping interlocked straps combinedwith a toe pocket, and further consists of a barefoot sandal which willhereinafter be described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1is a perspective view of a barefoot sandal embodying the invention, thewearers ankle and instep being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a view somewhat enlarged as compared to Fig. 1, with the heeland counter portion omitted and the toe portion or toe pocket brokenaway and shown in section.

The sandal consists of the outer sole I of any suitable or preferredconstruction, preferably what is known as a soft sole. As shown in Fig.1 it may be provided with a soft spring heel 2 and a counter 3. It isprovided with crossed straps 4, the ends of which are connected at tothe sole at a point approximately at the forward end of the shankportion 6, and at I at points between the ball portion and the toeportion. Connection to the outer sole may be made in any suitablemanner, as by stitching the ends between the outer sole and the innersole 8. Heretofore these crossed straps have not been connected to eachother in any Way and as a result they were constantly becomingdisarranged and it was difiicult to keep them in proper position on thefoot. This difficulty is overcome by slitting each of the straps 4 asindicated at 9, forming at the forward ends of each strap 4 two separatemembers II! and these members ID are interlocked and engaged as clearlyshown in the drawing. By this arrangement there is provided a limited,free, adjustable movement of the straps with relation to each other, anda locking of the straps together caused by the pressure exerted thereonby the forward part of the instep and toe portion of the foot of thewearer. Thus the securing straps, while readily and automaticallyadjustable to the foot of. the

wearer, insure a more certain means of holding the sandal to the foot.

Around the toe portion there is provided a toe pocket I I which in someforms of the sandal may extend rearwardly along the sides of the foot asindicated at I2, and if a counter 3 be provided, merging into thecounter 3 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The toe pocket IIis constructed of any suitable material, preferably of the same materialas that employed for the overlapping straps 4, and will be secured as bystitching I3 to the outer sole. Preferably the toe pocket II will be ofsuch a size as to receive and cover the toes of. the wearer, while atthe same time preserving all of the advantages of a barefoot sandal asheretofore made.

It is of course to be understood that the present invention residesalmost entirely in the forepart of the shoe extending from the shank tothe toe portion and it is contemplated to omit the counter entirely inmaking that type of the barefoot sandal usually known as a mule. Thestraps 4 at their rear ends and the ends of the members [0 may bestitched to the inward extensions l2 of the toe portion at the pointswhere they cross such inward extensions as indicated in the drawing,thus firmly connecting the straps 4 and members l0 and at the same timereinforcing the toe portion and the extensions thereof and holding themin proper position about the toes and along the sides. It will befurther understood that instead of using a soft sole and a soft springheel, a stiff sole and a high heel may be employed' In use, theinterlocked overlapping straps 4 engage the forward part of the instepof the foot and will hold the sandal in place on the foot of the wearer,and the toe pocket II will not only receive and cover the toes andprotect them, but will also 2 f 7 2,032,206 assist in combination withthe overlapping interlocked straps, in holding the sandal on the foot.

I claim:

A sandal or slipper comprising an outer sole and overlapping straps, theforward ends of which are split and interlaced with each other, the rearends of said straps being secured to the sole at the forward shankportion, a. toe pocket surrounding the forward portion of the sole andextending rearwardly along the sides thereof, with the ends of theinterlaced straps crossing each other and embracing the rearwardextensions of. the toe pocket and secured thereto and between the toepocket and the sole at opposite*sides thereof.

LEON, GOLDBERG.

